Method of producing heat-exchange units



June 24, 1930. vA. B. MoplNE METHOD 0F PRODUCING HEAT EXCHANG UNITS Filed lMarch 25,419.27 2 Sheets-Sheet. l'y

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lm'rnov or PRODUCING HEAT EXCHANGE UNITS Filed March 25.11927 .2 sheets-sheet, 2

vheat exchange unit embodying the inven- Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR B. MODINE, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MODINE MANUYFAOTUBING COMPANY', OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN METHOD OF PRODUCING HEAT-EXCHANGE UNITS Application led March 25, 1927. Serial No. 178,488.

' My invention relates to heat exchange units and a method of producing the same and has among its other objects the production of devices of the Ikind described which are neat and attractive in a pearance, comact, convenient, durable, e cient and satisactory for use wherever found applicable.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved method for producing heat exchange'units adapted to be employed as radiators or condensers-' Another particular object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange unit of improved construction.

Many other yobjects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled inthe art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed ou in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of. one of va plurality of tubes which form parts of a tion;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of fins or plates which form parts of the improved heat exchange unit;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of U-shaped members which also form parts of the improved heat exchange unit; l

Fig. 4 is a plan elevation of an assembly comprising members of the type shown 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. 4, a portion of a saw being shown in connection therewith to 1llustrate the manner in which my improved method is practiced;

Fig. 6 isa plan elevation of a heat exchange unit which has been formed by sawing through an assembly of the kind shown,

in Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation `of the 'heat exchange unit shown in Fig. 6.

It is believed that a complete understanding of my improved methodI will be had from 'the following description of a device lwhich is manufactured by practicing the method. I

The improved method is particularly adapted to be practiced in the manufacture of radiator umts of the type shown and described in Patents 1,726,360, August 27, 1929 and 1,730,470, October 8, 1929 respectively, but it is to be understood that my invention is limited to this use only to the extent indicated in the appended claims as the units ma be employed as condensers, or the like.

igs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate thev construc-v tion of tubes, plates and U-shaped members,-

struction but are also preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal and are preferably provided with notches 16 in which the U-shaped members 12 may be secured. It will be noted that the notches 16 are arranged in pairs so that when the U-shaped members 12 are assembled with the plates 11 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, each member 12 upon each face of the/radiator will be aligned with a member 12 upon the other face thereof.

In practice, the tubes 10 are rst assembled with the plates 11, the plates being retained in spaced relation during the assembling operation. After the tubes have been assembled'with the plates, the U-shaped members 12 are inserted in the notches 16. The tubes 10 and U-shaped members 12 are preferablysoldered to the plates 11. If desired, the tubes 10 may b'e soldered to the plates 11 by dipping them into a bath of fused solder, and the U-shaped members 12 may be subsequently soldered to the plates in the same manner. Of course, in some instances, I may prefer to secure the U-shaped members 12 and the tubes 10 to the plates in a sin le operation by dipping them in fused sol er, and in other instances I may prefer to secure the U-shaped members to the plates 11 by using soldering irons, or the like. v

Assuming now that the tubes 10, the plates 11 and the U-shaped members 12 have been assembled as illustrated ,in Figs. 4 and 5, it is obvious that the unit may be cut along the dotted lines shown at 2() in Fig. 4 to rovide a pluralit of units substantially i entical to the unit shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Any

suitable means may be provided for cutting the assembly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 but I preferably employ a saw 21, or the equivalent, as indicated in Fig. 5 for this purpose.'

Obviously, after the saw has been employed to cut the assembly up into units, each unitl Will appear substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and will be provided With reinforcing strips 1221 at the corners of the plates 11. I have deemed it best to indicate the plates 1l in Figs. 6 and 7 by the same refergnce character as the plates shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 as substantially no change is made therein during the cutting operation With the exception that each of the larger plates is manufactured into a vplurality of smaller plates.

The provision of the U-shaped members 12 which are formed into the reinforcing members 12"L is advantageous in that it prevents the production of a plurality of sharp ragged corners upon each of the plates 11 1n the sections, each unit having a neat and attractive appearance after it has been produced by sawing up the assembly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It is'readilycapparent that the reinforcing members 12 protect the edges of the plates 11 from injury and tend to retain them in their spaced positions. A feature of my invention is that the U-shaped members 12 serve as guides for the saw.

Having thus described my invention, it is'obvious that various immaterial modificaunits which com rises forming an assembly of a plurality o plates and tubes, securing guide means to sald plates, and then sawing through said guidin means and said lates to divide the assem ly into a vlurality of units. A, f

8. A method of forming heat exchan e units which comprises forming an assemb y of a plurality of plates and tubes, securing substantial?7 U-shaped members toy said assembly, an then sawing through said substantially U-shaped members and the plates to divide the assembly linto a plurality of units.

4. A method of forming heat exchan e units which comprises forming an assemb y of a plurality of plates and tubes, soldering guide means to said assembly, and then cuttin through said guide means and plates tol divlde the assembly into a plurality of units.

5. A method of forming heat exchange units which comprises forming an assembly of parts, securing guide means to said assembly, and then cutting through said assembly at said guide means to divide the` sem ly, and them employing said members as guides to cut up the assembly into units. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

ARTHUR B. MoDiNE.

tions may be made in the same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to securev by LettersPatent is:

1. A method of forming heat exchange units which comprises forming an assembly of a plurality of plates and tubes, the plates being provided Withl guide means and then cutting through said assembly'at said guide.

means to-provide a plurality of units.

2. A method of forming heat exchange 

